What do you think?
Rate this book
Regions of the Heart
Alison Hargreaves perished with five others in 1995 in a hurricane-force storm on her descent from the summit of K2, the world's second highest peak. Only 33 years old, she'd successfully scaled Everest five months earlier without the aid of oxygen--the first woman to do so. Drawing on Hargreaves's diaries and interviews with family members and acquaintances, British journalist-climbers David Rose and Ed Douglas trace her evolution from an energetic teenager who dreams of being the best female climber in the world to the person she is on her ascent of a driven woman criticized in the British press for egotism and a lack of good judgment (she did, after all, climb the famously difficult Eigerwand in the Alps during the second term of pregnancy). "It eats away at me--wanting the children and wanting K2," she wrote in her journal. "I feel like I'm being pulled in two. Maybe they'd be happier if Mum was around but maybe summiting K2 would help make a better future for them." Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air and David Breashears's IMAX documentary Everest have made the travails of high-altitude climbing irresistible entertainment for outdoors enthusiasts and armchair travelers alike. But in all the stories of hubris, superhuman endurance, and courage, rarely does a woman claim the spotlight and rarely are the hard domestic realities of the climber's life explored. Regions of the Heart breaks with this tendency. The authors re-create Hargreaves's complicated career by examining her hard-working middle-class English background, her marriage to a much older man who lives vicariously through her achievements, her rejection of more practical pursuits for the rush of climbing, her persistent fear of failure, and her financial insecurity; all these factors ultimately add up to her fatal decision to climb K2 despite worsening conditions and her two young children at home. "Going on the mountain was not the difficulty for her. Mountains were the one place she felt confident about what to do. Going home meant finally resolving her relationship with [her husband] and surviving as a single mother," the authors write. Less a tale of adventure and more an honest picture of one woman's struggle for fulfillment, Regions of the Heart puts into perspective Alison Hargreaves's choice of the mountain over life. --Rebecca Wright
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 1999
About the author
David Rose
6 books3 followersDavid Rose is a writer and investigative journalist. His awards include the David Watt Memorial Prize and the One World award for human rights journalism. His work appears in The Observer and Vanity Fair. Among his books are In the Name of the Law, a widely-praised examination of the British criminal justice system; and A Climate of Fear, an investigation of the Broadwater Farm case and the conviction of Winston Silcott. He has also written books on mountaineering, including Regions of the Heart, a biography of Alison Hargreaves, the British climber who died in her attempt to conquer K2, and he is working on a book about the US death penalty centred on a miscarriage of justice in the town of Columbus, Georgia. David Rose lives in Oxford with his family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 23, 2015
I've read a good few climbing books over the years however reading one that was solely about female climbers a little while back I realised that I had read less about Alison Hargreaves than a number of other climbers so I bought this one to address the balance.
Books about climbers often have some degree of bias in them but this one seems to strike a reasonable balance. The authors, both successful climbers, have written well here. The story is well laid out with not too much jargon. Alison life is covered from here earliest years up to her death on K2. The story of her early years is not only evocative of a time gone by but also shows the benefit of chance, location and human interest - the school she went to actually encouraged her climbing as a normal curriculum activity. There is a reasonable degree of emphasis on her personal life and marriage and this is an important part of her character. Flawed though she probably was in her personal life she was a highly talented and driven climber. If you need proof of driven she asked an experienced climbing doctor if she could go to the Himalaya in her 2nd trimester and on being told that it might not be wise headed for the north face of the Eiger instead!
Excellent book for those with an interest.
Books about climbers often have some degree of bias in them but this one seems to strike a reasonable balance. The authors, both successful climbers, have written well here. The story is well laid out with not too much jargon. Alison life is covered from here earliest years up to her death on K2. The story of her early years is not only evocative of a time gone by but also shows the benefit of chance, location and human interest - the school she went to actually encouraged her climbing as a normal curriculum activity. There is a reasonable degree of emphasis on her personal life and marriage and this is an important part of her character. Flawed though she probably was in her personal life she was a highly talented and driven climber. If you need proof of driven she asked an experienced climbing doctor if she could go to the Himalaya in her 2nd trimester and on being told that it might not be wise headed for the north face of the Eiger instead!
Excellent book for those with an interest.
March 1, 2019
La tragicità della figura di Alison Hargreaves (una delle più tragiche della storia dell’alpinismo che io conosca) non è tanto nella morte sul K2 (sicuramente tragica), quanto nella sua vita – che l’ha portata infine in Himalaya.
Una vita che è una summa de “La mefamorfosi” di Kafka, un percorso che l’ha fatta scivolare, passo dopo passo in un incubo, contro il quale Alison ha lottato con grande coraggio ma con altrettanta confusione proprio com’è poi successo sul K2 e che quindi inevitabilmente l’ha portata a perdere la battaglia. Ma non la guerra: vediamo perché.
Vuoi per indole, per educazione, per inesperienza o per imbarazzo, la Hargreaves non ha mai voluto raccontare molto di sé e questo avrebbe aiutato moltissimo a capirla e a capire le sue scelte. Eppure qualcosa è trapelato quando ha incontrato la stampa in occasione dei suoi successi alpinistici: purtroppo, anche e soprattutto in queste situazioni, vuoi per grave inettitudine del marito (che praticamente l’ha spinta giù – involontariamente! – nel suo baratro) vuoi appunto perché incapace di gestirsi, quello che è arrivato al grande pubblico di Alison Hargreaves è arrivato “strano”, come lei del resto. “Strano” perché lei dava a pensare di essere un’”infoiata (self driven, dicevano di lei), una persona arida interiormente. E soprattutto – soprattutto! - una madre molto, molto discutibile: purtroppo quello per cui Alison Hargreaves si ricorda maggiormente non è la nord dell’Eiger al sesto mese di gravidanza (prima donna britannica a compierla), non è la prima femminile sullo sperone Croz, non è la prima donna sull’Everest senza ossigeno. No. Quello per cui la si ricorda è soprattutto per il controverso dibattito di cui lei era al centro: “Come si fa a correre quei rischi in montagna quando si è madri??” Le accuse venivano da giornalistE che scrivevano nella metà degli anni Novanta – del secolo scorso.
Vale allora la pena di appoggiare la lente di ingrandimento su questo dettaglio che soprattutto oggi, nel 2019 dovrebbe fare sorridere. E invece ripenso alla presentazione del libro di Anna Torretta (prima guida donna delle storiche guide di Courmayeur! Non ci si stanca di ripetere) e alla domanda che le è stata fatta con più insistenza: come fai a fare la mamma e la guida alpina? A Hervé Barmasse qualcuno gli ha mai fatto la stessa domanda?
Alison Hagreaves quindi non era “solo” una donna alpinista – che seppure restano poche, direi che oggi, fortunatamente, fa sempre meno scalpore – è che era anche una mamma - ed in effetti di queste a tutt’oggi ce ne sono pochissime. Ma non è tutto. Alison Hargreaves era una mamma alpinista che doveva provvedere con la sua carriera al mantenimento di tutta la sua famiglia, marito in primis. Ta-da! E questo lei non l’aveva mai detto a nessuno.
Ingrandiamo allora ancora un po’ di più questo dettaglio della vita di Alison che è indubbiamente particolare. Non amava raccontare di sé per tanti motivi, come ho detto sopra, ma indubbiamente non è facile raccontare al grande pubblico di un marito che ti picchia, che abusa di te in tutto (la macchina è sepolta dalla neve? Alison: c’è bisogno di spalare! Tanto per fare un esempio), che ha fatto un fallimento epocale con la tua impresa di articoli sportivi (Alison era partner). I Ballard (nome da sposata di Alison) erano talmente messi male coi soldi che erano inseguiti dal fisco ovunque, che nel frattempo gli aveva confiscato tutto: telefono, macchina, casa – gli Hargreaves hanno vissuto in due tende in un campeggio a Chamonix per un annetto circa (in attesa di successi alpinistici di Alison per pareggiare i conti) perché non avevano altro posto. Con loro c’erano i loro due bambini Tom (Tom Ballard) e Kate che erano in età prescolare.
Tre domande: la prima. Se le giornaliste l’avessero saputo, avrebbero chiesto al marito perché quando erano a Chamonix, non aveva preso il primo lavoro disponibile per aiutare un po’ la moglie che, senza una lira, saliva su la Montenvers a piedi perché non aveva nemmeno i soldi per il biglietto del treno, scalava tutto il giorno, poi scendeva al campeggio, cucinava e metteva a letto lei i figli? Perché in generale, con lo sconquasso economico che opprimeva la famiglia con due bambini piccoli, perché non si dava da fare a trovare qualcosa?
La seconda: perché non l’ha fatto Alison? Perché nemmeno lei ha voluto lasciar perdere l’alpinismo e prendere un lavoro qualsiasi pur di mantenere i bambini? Perchè era disperata nel voler a tutti i costi compiere qualcosa di grandioso con l’alpinismo, subendo terribilmente il confronto con la Destivelle che impazzava all’epoca – fidanzata con gli uomini “giusti” che curavano il suo profilo al grande pubblico e poi donna senza essere mamma?
La terza: perché Alison non è mai, mai, mai riuscita a lasciare questo uomo terribile?
Tre risposte. La prima: non lo potremo sapere mai. Certo è che a posteriori, qualcuna potrebbe chiederglielo, ma è passato troppo tempo e non vale la pena di andare a rimestare.
La seconda. Alison non ha mollato perché abbandonare l’alpinismo voleva dire arrendersi completamente ad una vita orribile. Darla vinta definitivamente a quell’incubo di suo marito. In questo va tutta la mia grande ammirazione per lei. E’ stata coraggiosissima perché ha affrontato oltre alle durezze concrete della vita, le montagne di pregiudizi degli “altri” e ha lasciato un vero ricordo di sé ai suoi figli, che era quanto di più ha amato al mondo. Il ricordo più importante: che non si deve vivere da morti, come zombie.
La terza. Non riusciva a lasciarlo perché era terrorizzata all’idea che le togliessero i figli, data la vita che faceva che la costringeva a lunghe assenze. Ecco, Alison era pronta a tutto: persino a morire in montagna, ma non a vivere senza i suoi figli. Su questo non era disposta a fare nessuna concessione.
Alison Hargreaves, 1962-1995. Alpinista britannica. Morta per non morire.
Una vita che è una summa de “La mefamorfosi” di Kafka, un percorso che l’ha fatta scivolare, passo dopo passo in un incubo, contro il quale Alison ha lottato con grande coraggio ma con altrettanta confusione proprio com’è poi successo sul K2 e che quindi inevitabilmente l’ha portata a perdere la battaglia. Ma non la guerra: vediamo perché.
Vuoi per indole, per educazione, per inesperienza o per imbarazzo, la Hargreaves non ha mai voluto raccontare molto di sé e questo avrebbe aiutato moltissimo a capirla e a capire le sue scelte. Eppure qualcosa è trapelato quando ha incontrato la stampa in occasione dei suoi successi alpinistici: purtroppo, anche e soprattutto in queste situazioni, vuoi per grave inettitudine del marito (che praticamente l’ha spinta giù – involontariamente! – nel suo baratro) vuoi appunto perché incapace di gestirsi, quello che è arrivato al grande pubblico di Alison Hargreaves è arrivato “strano”, come lei del resto. “Strano” perché lei dava a pensare di essere un’”infoiata (self driven, dicevano di lei), una persona arida interiormente. E soprattutto – soprattutto! - una madre molto, molto discutibile: purtroppo quello per cui Alison Hargreaves si ricorda maggiormente non è la nord dell’Eiger al sesto mese di gravidanza (prima donna britannica a compierla), non è la prima femminile sullo sperone Croz, non è la prima donna sull’Everest senza ossigeno. No. Quello per cui la si ricorda è soprattutto per il controverso dibattito di cui lei era al centro: “Come si fa a correre quei rischi in montagna quando si è madri??” Le accuse venivano da giornalistE che scrivevano nella metà degli anni Novanta – del secolo scorso.
Vale allora la pena di appoggiare la lente di ingrandimento su questo dettaglio che soprattutto oggi, nel 2019 dovrebbe fare sorridere. E invece ripenso alla presentazione del libro di Anna Torretta (prima guida donna delle storiche guide di Courmayeur! Non ci si stanca di ripetere) e alla domanda che le è stata fatta con più insistenza: come fai a fare la mamma e la guida alpina? A Hervé Barmasse qualcuno gli ha mai fatto la stessa domanda?
Alison Hagreaves quindi non era “solo” una donna alpinista – che seppure restano poche, direi che oggi, fortunatamente, fa sempre meno scalpore – è che era anche una mamma - ed in effetti di queste a tutt’oggi ce ne sono pochissime. Ma non è tutto. Alison Hargreaves era una mamma alpinista che doveva provvedere con la sua carriera al mantenimento di tutta la sua famiglia, marito in primis. Ta-da! E questo lei non l’aveva mai detto a nessuno.
Ingrandiamo allora ancora un po’ di più questo dettaglio della vita di Alison che è indubbiamente particolare. Non amava raccontare di sé per tanti motivi, come ho detto sopra, ma indubbiamente non è facile raccontare al grande pubblico di un marito che ti picchia, che abusa di te in tutto (la macchina è sepolta dalla neve? Alison: c’è bisogno di spalare! Tanto per fare un esempio), che ha fatto un fallimento epocale con la tua impresa di articoli sportivi (Alison era partner). I Ballard (nome da sposata di Alison) erano talmente messi male coi soldi che erano inseguiti dal fisco ovunque, che nel frattempo gli aveva confiscato tutto: telefono, macchina, casa – gli Hargreaves hanno vissuto in due tende in un campeggio a Chamonix per un annetto circa (in attesa di successi alpinistici di Alison per pareggiare i conti) perché non avevano altro posto. Con loro c’erano i loro due bambini Tom (Tom Ballard) e Kate che erano in età prescolare.
Tre domande: la prima. Se le giornaliste l’avessero saputo, avrebbero chiesto al marito perché quando erano a Chamonix, non aveva preso il primo lavoro disponibile per aiutare un po’ la moglie che, senza una lira, saliva su la Montenvers a piedi perché non aveva nemmeno i soldi per il biglietto del treno, scalava tutto il giorno, poi scendeva al campeggio, cucinava e metteva a letto lei i figli? Perché in generale, con lo sconquasso economico che opprimeva la famiglia con due bambini piccoli, perché non si dava da fare a trovare qualcosa?
La seconda: perché non l’ha fatto Alison? Perché nemmeno lei ha voluto lasciar perdere l’alpinismo e prendere un lavoro qualsiasi pur di mantenere i bambini? Perchè era disperata nel voler a tutti i costi compiere qualcosa di grandioso con l’alpinismo, subendo terribilmente il confronto con la Destivelle che impazzava all’epoca – fidanzata con gli uomini “giusti” che curavano il suo profilo al grande pubblico e poi donna senza essere mamma?
La terza: perché Alison non è mai, mai, mai riuscita a lasciare questo uomo terribile?
Tre risposte. La prima: non lo potremo sapere mai. Certo è che a posteriori, qualcuna potrebbe chiederglielo, ma è passato troppo tempo e non vale la pena di andare a rimestare.
La seconda. Alison non ha mollato perché abbandonare l’alpinismo voleva dire arrendersi completamente ad una vita orribile. Darla vinta definitivamente a quell’incubo di suo marito. In questo va tutta la mia grande ammirazione per lei. E’ stata coraggiosissima perché ha affrontato oltre alle durezze concrete della vita, le montagne di pregiudizi degli “altri” e ha lasciato un vero ricordo di sé ai suoi figli, che era quanto di più ha amato al mondo. Il ricordo più importante: che non si deve vivere da morti, come zombie.
La terza. Non riusciva a lasciarlo perché era terrorizzata all’idea che le togliessero i figli, data la vita che faceva che la costringeva a lunghe assenze. Ecco, Alison era pronta a tutto: persino a morire in montagna, ma non a vivere senza i suoi figli. Su questo non era disposta a fare nessuna concessione.
Alison Hargreaves, 1962-1995. Alpinista britannica. Morta per non morire.
September 19, 2018
Scrittura lenta, pesante e ripetitiva. Peccato perché la vita dell'alpinista Alison Hargreaves è stata straordinariamente interessante e fuori dalle righe, di sicuro appassionante se raccontata in modo diverso.
December 18, 2008
Regions of the Heart tells the poignant life story of British climber, Alison Hargreaves. Hargreaves, who was killed descending K2 after successfully climbing it in 1985, was probably the best female British climber of her day. Unmotivated at school, and desiring only to climb, she left home at 18 to live with an older man (who she later married) who became both her mentor and her abuser.
Hargreaves was unable to break the bond which tied her to husband, despite the fact that she was fiercely independent and strong in the mountains. Her husband ran a store which sold climbing equipment, and Hargreaves contributed significantly to its success, designing and making supplies such as tents and climbers' chalk bags. For a while, the business and the marriage were successful, and Hargreaves had two children she adored. But eventually the business fell on hard times, and Hargreaves' husband became increasingly abusive.
As times became tough, Hargreaves saw other climbers, some of whom were clearly not as talented as she was, become more famous. A particularly hard blow came when Rebecca Stephens became the first British female to climb Mount Everest, something Hargreaves had previously attempted to do, and failed due to bad weather. Stephens was basically guided up the mountain, and two years later, Hargreaves climbed Mount Everest solo, without using supplemental oxygen, an achievement which would have been significant if accomplished by a man, but which did not receive the attention that Stephens' much easier ascent had garnered.
Pressed by financial difficulties, and hoping that a successful ascent of K2 would bring improve her financial condition and bring her the kind of recognition she craved and thought she deserved, she left within a few months to attempt to climb K2. Some criticized her for taking such risks when she had two small children, as they had when she climbed the Eiger when pregnant, but it is worth noting that such comments were rarely made about male climbers. For instance, little such commentary was made in 1996 when Scott Fischer, with a wife and two small children at home, and Rob Hall, with a pregnant wife, died on Mount Everest.
The authors had access to Hargreaves diaries, which gave them unique insight into her thoughts about her life and climbing. They were able to write an insightful and sensitive biography of this complex and driven woman. In some senses, Hargreaves' story is a sad one, full of bad choices and adversity almost overcome. But in another sense, it is an uplifting story, full of goals met, and difficulties overcome. As the book notes, "Behind the cliche and moral censure that surrounded her death was an ordinary woman with an extraordinary talent and determination, with hopes, fears, loves, virtues and faults, who did great things and made some terrible mistakes. It is not too much to hope that in the moments before the hurricane closed around her, as she started home from the summit of K2 with the world beneath her feet, Alison was happy."
If she was, she paid a high price indeed for her happiness. In the end, I was unable to decide whether Hargreaves' life was one lived triumphantly on her own terms, or one frustrated by insurmountable obstacles and tragically cut short.
Hargreaves was unable to break the bond which tied her to husband, despite the fact that she was fiercely independent and strong in the mountains. Her husband ran a store which sold climbing equipment, and Hargreaves contributed significantly to its success, designing and making supplies such as tents and climbers' chalk bags. For a while, the business and the marriage were successful, and Hargreaves had two children she adored. But eventually the business fell on hard times, and Hargreaves' husband became increasingly abusive.
As times became tough, Hargreaves saw other climbers, some of whom were clearly not as talented as she was, become more famous. A particularly hard blow came when Rebecca Stephens became the first British female to climb Mount Everest, something Hargreaves had previously attempted to do, and failed due to bad weather. Stephens was basically guided up the mountain, and two years later, Hargreaves climbed Mount Everest solo, without using supplemental oxygen, an achievement which would have been significant if accomplished by a man, but which did not receive the attention that Stephens' much easier ascent had garnered.
Pressed by financial difficulties, and hoping that a successful ascent of K2 would bring improve her financial condition and bring her the kind of recognition she craved and thought she deserved, she left within a few months to attempt to climb K2. Some criticized her for taking such risks when she had two small children, as they had when she climbed the Eiger when pregnant, but it is worth noting that such comments were rarely made about male climbers. For instance, little such commentary was made in 1996 when Scott Fischer, with a wife and two small children at home, and Rob Hall, with a pregnant wife, died on Mount Everest.
The authors had access to Hargreaves diaries, which gave them unique insight into her thoughts about her life and climbing. They were able to write an insightful and sensitive biography of this complex and driven woman. In some senses, Hargreaves' story is a sad one, full of bad choices and adversity almost overcome. But in another sense, it is an uplifting story, full of goals met, and difficulties overcome. As the book notes, "Behind the cliche and moral censure that surrounded her death was an ordinary woman with an extraordinary talent and determination, with hopes, fears, loves, virtues and faults, who did great things and made some terrible mistakes. It is not too much to hope that in the moments before the hurricane closed around her, as she started home from the summit of K2 with the world beneath her feet, Alison was happy."
If she was, she paid a high price indeed for her happiness. In the end, I was unable to decide whether Hargreaves' life was one lived triumphantly on her own terms, or one frustrated by insurmountable obstacles and tragically cut short.
October 20, 2025
4.5
I’ve had Regions of the Heart on my to-read pile for a while and finally picked it up after reading Alison Hargreaves’ A Hard Summer’s Day. In her own book, she focuses mainly on the climbing achievements of her summer alpine project, touching only briefly on the personal challenges behind it.
Regions of the Heart fills in those gaps, exploring not just her climbs but her life — including her relationship problems with Jim and her love for both her children and the mountains. The book highlights the intense media attention surrounding her K2 ascent, which came only weeks after Alison became the first woman to do an unsupported summit of Everest.
I found her diary entries from the K2 expedition especially moving — the honesty in her words, how much she missed her children, and how she wanted just to go home but felt that she had to succeed to create a future for her children.
I’ve had Regions of the Heart on my to-read pile for a while and finally picked it up after reading Alison Hargreaves’ A Hard Summer’s Day. In her own book, she focuses mainly on the climbing achievements of her summer alpine project, touching only briefly on the personal challenges behind it.
Regions of the Heart fills in those gaps, exploring not just her climbs but her life — including her relationship problems with Jim and her love for both her children and the mountains. The book highlights the intense media attention surrounding her K2 ascent, which came only weeks after Alison became the first woman to do an unsupported summit of Everest.
I found her diary entries from the K2 expedition especially moving — the honesty in her words, how much she missed her children, and how she wanted just to go home but felt that she had to succeed to create a future for her children.
March 11, 2021
A really good read in a busy genre. Gives interesting insights into the forces that drove Hargreaves, and addresses the question of where the dividing line is between climbing mountains for pleasure as an extreme sport and pushing yourself in order to gain headlines in the media and to satisfy sponsors, and how a family fits into all this.
January 11, 2023
Die Britin Alison Hargreaves galt als eine der besten Kletterinnen ihrer Zeit. Aber nachdem sie 1995 am K2 tödlich verunglückte, änderte sich die Stimmung ihr gegenüber. Wie konnte die zweifache Mutter so ein hohes Risiko eingehen, so kurz nach einer gelungen Expedition den zweithöchsten Berg der Welt besteigen zu wollen?
Diese kritischen Stimmen sind auch Jahre nach ihrem Tod nicht verstummt. Ed Douglas und David Rose versuchen, in ihrem Buch eine Antwort darauf zu finden, warum Alison Hargreaves nie wirklich die Anerkennung erfahren hat, die ihr aufgrund ihrer Leistungen zustehen würde.
Wie kann eine zweifache Mutter eine solches Risiko eingehen? Wäre diese Frage gestellt worden, wenn Alison ein Mann gewesen wäre? Ich denke nicht. Von männlichen Kletterern wird fast schon erwartet, dass sie große Risiken eingehen und jede neue, noch schwierigere Route wird bewundert. Dabei war es zu der Zeit, in der Alison mit dem Klettern anfing, anders. Sie war eine der wenigen Frauen an der Wand und sicherlich die beste. Aber sie wurde für ihre Leistung bewundert und nicht kritisiert.
Von Anfang an war Alison sehr fokussiert. Seit sie ihre Leidenschaft fürs Klettern entdeckt habe, hat sie dem alles untergeordnet. Selbst schwerste Verletzungen konnten sie nicht von ihrem Ziel abbringen. Deshalb hat es ihre Umgebung mehr als nur überrascht, als sie sich in einen wesentlich älteren Mann verliebt und dafür den Traum vom Klettern fast aufgegeben hat. Wenn man ihre Tagebucheintragungen aus dieser Zeit liest, lesen sie sich wie die von einer anderen Person, die zudem nicht glücklich ist.
Beim Lesen hatte ich immer mehr das Gefühl, dass sie von ihrem Mann nicht unterstützt wurde. Schlimmer noch: ihr Mann war mehr als einmal gewalttätig ihr gegenüber. Trotzdem ist sie bei ihm geblieben. Es kam mir so vor, als ob sie das Bild einer glücklichen Familie genauso unbeirrt verfolgte wie ihrer sportliche Karriere. Aber anders als an der Wand hatte sie hier keinen Erfolg
Alison hat Großes erreicht, aber das letzte bisschen zur sportlichen Anerkennung hat immer gefehlt. Sie war nicht gut darin, auf sich aufmerksam zu machen. Deshalb konnte sie nie von ihrem Sport leben. Sie schien mir auch nicht der Typ fürs Rampenlicht zu sein, wenn sie auf einer Veranstaltung sprechen musste, schien sie sich immer unwohl zu fühlen.
Anfangs war das kein Problem, aber als sie mit ihrem Sportgeschäft nicht nur ihr Einkommensquelle verloren, sondern zudem auch noch vor einem Berg Schulden standen, musste Alison mit dem Bergsteigen Geld verdienen. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Mann plante sie ihre Expeditionen, aber die Spannung zwischen ihnen und die Tatsache, dass er sich nie für ihren Sport interessiert und deshalb keine Ahnung von ihren Möglichkeiten hatte, hat sie unter großen Druck gestellt. Sie musste große Leistung bringen, um das Überleben ihre Familie zu sichern und traf deshalb mehr als eine falsche Entscheidung. Die Expedition zum K2 war keine davon, aber nicht rechtzeitig umzukehren war es. Vielleicht war der Druck letztendlich doch zu groß.
Bevor ich das Buch gelesen hatte, hatte ich den Namen Alison Hargreaves schon mehrmals gelesen, immer wieder im Zusammenhang mit ihrer traurigen Geschichte. Sie hebt sich sehr ab von den meistens positiven Geschichten, die ich bis jetzt gelesen habe. Aber auch das gehört dazu, wenn auch meistens nicht darüber gesprochen wird. Denn negative Geschichten verkaufen sich nur gut, wenn eine Tragödie dahinter steckt.
Diese kritischen Stimmen sind auch Jahre nach ihrem Tod nicht verstummt. Ed Douglas und David Rose versuchen, in ihrem Buch eine Antwort darauf zu finden, warum Alison Hargreaves nie wirklich die Anerkennung erfahren hat, die ihr aufgrund ihrer Leistungen zustehen würde.
Wie kann eine zweifache Mutter eine solches Risiko eingehen? Wäre diese Frage gestellt worden, wenn Alison ein Mann gewesen wäre? Ich denke nicht. Von männlichen Kletterern wird fast schon erwartet, dass sie große Risiken eingehen und jede neue, noch schwierigere Route wird bewundert. Dabei war es zu der Zeit, in der Alison mit dem Klettern anfing, anders. Sie war eine der wenigen Frauen an der Wand und sicherlich die beste. Aber sie wurde für ihre Leistung bewundert und nicht kritisiert.
Von Anfang an war Alison sehr fokussiert. Seit sie ihre Leidenschaft fürs Klettern entdeckt habe, hat sie dem alles untergeordnet. Selbst schwerste Verletzungen konnten sie nicht von ihrem Ziel abbringen. Deshalb hat es ihre Umgebung mehr als nur überrascht, als sie sich in einen wesentlich älteren Mann verliebt und dafür den Traum vom Klettern fast aufgegeben hat. Wenn man ihre Tagebucheintragungen aus dieser Zeit liest, lesen sie sich wie die von einer anderen Person, die zudem nicht glücklich ist.
Beim Lesen hatte ich immer mehr das Gefühl, dass sie von ihrem Mann nicht unterstützt wurde. Schlimmer noch: ihr Mann war mehr als einmal gewalttätig ihr gegenüber. Trotzdem ist sie bei ihm geblieben. Es kam mir so vor, als ob sie das Bild einer glücklichen Familie genauso unbeirrt verfolgte wie ihrer sportliche Karriere. Aber anders als an der Wand hatte sie hier keinen Erfolg
Alison hat Großes erreicht, aber das letzte bisschen zur sportlichen Anerkennung hat immer gefehlt. Sie war nicht gut darin, auf sich aufmerksam zu machen. Deshalb konnte sie nie von ihrem Sport leben. Sie schien mir auch nicht der Typ fürs Rampenlicht zu sein, wenn sie auf einer Veranstaltung sprechen musste, schien sie sich immer unwohl zu fühlen.
Anfangs war das kein Problem, aber als sie mit ihrem Sportgeschäft nicht nur ihr Einkommensquelle verloren, sondern zudem auch noch vor einem Berg Schulden standen, musste Alison mit dem Bergsteigen Geld verdienen. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Mann plante sie ihre Expeditionen, aber die Spannung zwischen ihnen und die Tatsache, dass er sich nie für ihren Sport interessiert und deshalb keine Ahnung von ihren Möglichkeiten hatte, hat sie unter großen Druck gestellt. Sie musste große Leistung bringen, um das Überleben ihre Familie zu sichern und traf deshalb mehr als eine falsche Entscheidung. Die Expedition zum K2 war keine davon, aber nicht rechtzeitig umzukehren war es. Vielleicht war der Druck letztendlich doch zu groß.
Bevor ich das Buch gelesen hatte, hatte ich den Namen Alison Hargreaves schon mehrmals gelesen, immer wieder im Zusammenhang mit ihrer traurigen Geschichte. Sie hebt sich sehr ab von den meistens positiven Geschichten, die ich bis jetzt gelesen habe. Aber auch das gehört dazu, wenn auch meistens nicht darüber gesprochen wird. Denn negative Geschichten verkaufen sich nur gut, wenn eine Tragödie dahinter steckt.
April 15, 2026
A mountaineering biography of sorts that deserves to be mentioned a lot more in the climbing literature world, the strong impression that comes across from reading this is ‘balance’.
The two authors here put forward a very balanced account and sympathetically, avoiding the usual pitfalls that can arise from male writers taking on a female subject. But also there’s a good balance in the way it tackles its subject. Alison Hargreaves’s here is discussed as the climber but also the person, the wife and the mother, and how she herself had to balance her life - her climbing as a passion but then having to appease her corporate sponsors and backers, and fitting this in and around her family life.
There are a number of ‘modern classics’ in the climbing sub genre, and this belongs up there with say Touching The Void, because this book deals with something that you don’t see in the rest as much, if at all, and that is the considerable bias against Alison Hargreaves from a surprising amount of the word. Being a parent seems only to come into play in the tabloids eyes when you’re a woman, and as such she is constantly attacked as being a poor mother and role model and more…all things that the male climbers largely don’t have to worry about being accused of, and even her death is given an incredibly different and horrific spin because of this.
Though she herself comes across well in these pages, and it’s a thoroughly engrossing read learning about her amazing accomplishments against her surprisingly deep insecurities, one wonders what she saw in her husband, who absolutely does not come across well here.
A really lovely book about an incredible woman in a very tough field, that I’d recommend to anyone
The two authors here put forward a very balanced account and sympathetically, avoiding the usual pitfalls that can arise from male writers taking on a female subject. But also there’s a good balance in the way it tackles its subject. Alison Hargreaves’s here is discussed as the climber but also the person, the wife and the mother, and how she herself had to balance her life - her climbing as a passion but then having to appease her corporate sponsors and backers, and fitting this in and around her family life.
There are a number of ‘modern classics’ in the climbing sub genre, and this belongs up there with say Touching The Void, because this book deals with something that you don’t see in the rest as much, if at all, and that is the considerable bias against Alison Hargreaves from a surprising amount of the word. Being a parent seems only to come into play in the tabloids eyes when you’re a woman, and as such she is constantly attacked as being a poor mother and role model and more…all things that the male climbers largely don’t have to worry about being accused of, and even her death is given an incredibly different and horrific spin because of this.
Though she herself comes across well in these pages, and it’s a thoroughly engrossing read learning about her amazing accomplishments against her surprisingly deep insecurities, one wonders what she saw in her husband, who absolutely does not come across well here.
A really lovely book about an incredible woman in a very tough field, that I’d recommend to anyone
July 22, 2018
A fantastic read about an extraordinary mountaineer. I know little about the world of mountaineering, heights being my biggest fear, but this in-depth analysis of one woman’s life delved into aspects of ambition, passion, fear and jealousy that we all live through. In the end I could feel the pull to the summit at the same time understanding the gradual, complex factors that led to her death. I’ve been quick to judge the summit industry but I completely understand Hargreaves decisions and can see how I have judged women and mothers differently to men. This book has given me a whole new perspective on how we all all pursue our dreams and the price we pay to feed our soul.
July 27, 2019
Read this book in a day it was so gripping. I’ve been fascinated by Alison for a long time and I just can’t stop thinking about this book. From her climbs in the Peak District and Wales, to her accomplishments in the Alps and Himalayas, she was certainly an amazing climber. There is a lot of talk that she was selfish for climbing whilst pregnant, then climbing Everest and K2 as a mother, but the book tells us the turmoil she went through trying to balance family life with her love of climbing.
If anything, this book made me admire Alison more, she was a remarkable, brave and talented climber.
If anything, this book made me admire Alison more, she was a remarkable, brave and talented climber.
February 17, 2026
This is probably the saddest mountaineering book I've read. Props to the authors, it was well written and well researched and never once I was annoyed by the judgement or views of two male authors on a female mountaineer. I struggle with books of this nature that are not autobiographies but here the journals of Alison made a big difference. When I read a hard's day summer I remember thinking wow how badass, cool woman doing cool things and that's it, but this book was a great reminder of all the complexities that live within a person. I found specially sad the pressure and the comparisons (both externally and internally), reminds me of the era of social media.
February 28, 2024
A well-written account about the life of Alison Hargreaves: it is very accurately titled 'The Triumph and Tragedy', often heartbreaking. She is a rather misunderstood figure in the history of British mountaineering with brilliant achievements, but these are often overshadowed by the ways the press decided to portray her. One must wonder, unfortunately, how we would think of her, were she a man... In either case, the book makes for brilliant reading, and gives great insight into her mind and life.
February 27, 2020
A fascinating story of Hargreaves commitment and passion for mountain climbing.
The question of the morality of a mother mountain climbing is most interesting. Fathers mountain climb but there seems to be a feeling that a mother taking such risks is morally more culpable than a father doing the same
Lots of food for thought and discussion.
The question of the morality of a mother mountain climbing is most interesting. Fathers mountain climb but there seems to be a feeling that a mother taking such risks is morally more culpable than a father doing the same
Lots of food for thought and discussion.
October 30, 2021
A very good book of human tragedy; public opinion without knowing the context; ‘expert’ opinions from non-experts; media circus and mountaineering.
A book that described the mountains and the organisation and talent needed to summit these mountains; the difficulties of marriage and the pressure of expectation.
Worth a read.
A book that described the mountains and the organisation and talent needed to summit these mountains; the difficulties of marriage and the pressure of expectation.
Worth a read.
December 5, 2022
Enjoyable and fascinating
I already knew the story but this books delves deeper into the personality and complexities of Alison as a wife and particularly a devoted mother. It's a real tragedy that she came so close and also that a similar fate befell her son years later. Not the best mountaineering book by far but still worth reading.
I already knew the story but this books delves deeper into the personality and complexities of Alison as a wife and particularly a devoted mother. It's a real tragedy that she came so close and also that a similar fate befell her son years later. Not the best mountaineering book by far but still worth reading.
January 19, 2023
Brilliantly written about a woman’s passion, dreams ambitions and achievements. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I wonder why it has taken me so long to read it having been published in 2001 - an inspiring read with a tragic end, but death comes to us all.
I wonder why it has taken me so long to read it having been published in 2001 - an inspiring read with a tragic end, but death comes to us all.
February 12, 2025
A really good book about an unnecessarily complicated figure in climbing history. Just like Monica Lewinsky and other unfairly maligned women of the 90's, Alison Hargreaves deserves a rewriting of her history. This was a fair attempt at that.
November 21, 2022
What a fabulous account on the life of one of the most talented mountaineers of all times. Beautifully written.
RIP Alison Hargreaves, wherever you are.
RIP Alison Hargreaves, wherever you are.
December 20, 2023
Sensitive
January 26, 2024
Couldn't get into it
February 10, 2018
A brilliant account of one of the best female climbers. Highly acclaimed by the male dominated and often petty community of Himalayan climbers, which just proves how skilled she was. You'd need to wonder, reading the book, how would Alison's life look like if she didn't get into an abusive relationship. She achieved so much despite the personal issues, with the right support system she could have been the greatest climber ever. Male or female. The book is detailed, but also descriptive in ways that paint the harsh landscapes of climbing with ease and love. Highly recommended read.
August 25, 2012
I am not much for adventure books but I found this one very intriguing and interesting. The reader view of the life, thoughts, dreams and fears of Alison Hargreaves. Through her diaries we are able to attempt to understand what drove this woman to be a mountaineers in spite of her desires to take care of her children. As you finish the book, you will not doubt form you own opinions. None the less, this was Alison's life and we are not in a position to criticize. A very good read.
October 4, 2013
It's not the type of book I normally pick up, but I found myself finishing it within the day!
For someone who doesn't know much about climbing, it was still easy to get fantastically in love with the world she lives for. Since it's not written from her point of view, and she was quite closed off about her emotions, at times she comes off as a little detatched. In reading from the exempts of her diary, you learn of her personal struggles and the strength she pulls off in each successful climb.
For someone who doesn't know much about climbing, it was still easy to get fantastically in love with the world she lives for. Since it's not written from her point of view, and she was quite closed off about her emotions, at times she comes off as a little detatched. In reading from the exempts of her diary, you learn of her personal struggles and the strength she pulls off in each successful climb.
November 21, 2020
Stunning Mountain Writing
Beautifully written account of the life of Alison Hargreaves, an amazingly talented climber. It is a tragic tale, of a driven woman and the mistakes she made. However the force of Hargreaves' determination and joy in climbing shines through.
From the opening pages of the book you know you're in the hands of skilled storytellers, with a poets' turn of phrase. Gripping and moving to the end.
Beautifully written account of the life of Alison Hargreaves, an amazingly talented climber. It is a tragic tale, of a driven woman and the mistakes she made. However the force of Hargreaves' determination and joy in climbing shines through.
From the opening pages of the book you know you're in the hands of skilled storytellers, with a poets' turn of phrase. Gripping and moving to the end.
September 26, 2009
Very interesting story of a Alison Hargreaves as she readies herself to climb difficult mountains (even though her status as a divorces mother of young ones was very contraversial among climbing community). She is determined and does conquer some difficult climbs, although she finds her fate in her attempt on K-2, probably the recognized as the most difficult mountain in the world to climb.
November 2, 2009
A below average biography of a motivated female climber. The text was highly repetitive. She seemed to be planning to leave her husband every day for several years! I was disgusted at the selfishness of this person. She climbed while 6 months pregnant. Oh and she fell off K2 to her death leaving behind 2 young children.
February 17, 2014
This book details the life of a female climber who died on K2.
Quite an interesting book, but the writing was plodding / repetitive. I didn't get any sense of the real person / climber. I kept asking, 'What drove her?'
A simple glossary would have helped for non-climbers and some context / basic facts about the climber’s achievements would have been useful.
Quite an interesting book, but the writing was plodding / repetitive. I didn't get any sense of the real person / climber. I kept asking, 'What drove her?'
A simple glossary would have helped for non-climbers and some context / basic facts about the climber’s achievements would have been useful.
July 12, 2015
A remarkable, tragic story of one woman and her determination to reach the top, for the benefit of her family. This book is inspiring and devastating, showing the strength of mind to succeed, and the risks you may need to take to get there. See my full review.
July 3, 2015
Certainly a fascinating read about one of the greatest female mountaineers taken before her time.
Want to Read
April 3, 2012I returned this to the library unfinished.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews